Union says it won't count Raley's contract votes

WEST SACRAMENTO — A tentative contract agreement between a Northern California supermarket chain and its workers has hit a snag.

The Sacramento Bee reports (http://bit.ly/U6PRPg) that the union representing Raley's workers said Monday it won't count the results of contract-ratification votes until grievances are resolved.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 8 President Jacques Loveall said Raley's has violated the strike settlement agreement.

He did not elaborate. But the president of another local, Ron Lind, told members that Raley's had implemented some of the terms of the tentative contract even though it had not been ratified by union members.

Raley's spokesman John Segale said both parties agreed to binding arbitration for any dispute, and the union should file a grievance rather than impound the ballots.

The tentative agreement was reached last month. It ended a nine-day strike at West Sacramento-based Raley's stores.